Are intrusion prevention systems right for your retail operation?

Picture this scenario: You’ve spent months planning and preparing to implement an upgraded commerce platform. The sales and marketing teams are excited to start using the platform’s enhanced functions to manage customer accounts and orchestrate an always-on CRM strategy. And then…you’re hacked. A DDoS attack disrupts everything. Your e-commerce platform is down. You can’t access customer, sales or inventory data, and your entire marketing communications ecosystem comes to a halt. 

Any network disruption is terrible for business. Nobody is happy when corporate email is down for even 15 minutes. But disruptions caused by a cyberattack or malware are much more than an inconvenience. They cost you in both dollars and lost credibility in the eyes of your customers (who are increasingly concerned about how you handle their data and protect their privacy). 

Cybercrime has exploded over the past few years. Let’s look at some of the numbers:

• The average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million — a 15% increase over 3 years.
• 82% of breaches involve cloud-based data.

What’s more, global cyberattacks increased 38% in 2022. With realities like that, it’s not a matter of if, but when, your company will become the next target. In fact, the market for cyber threat insurance (to protect against financial loss and liability) is growing rapidly. Industry projections estimate expenditures to reach nearly $85 billion by 2030. If you are among the millions of businesses that could be targeted, you’re going to need advanced-level network protection. The question is, can you manage your own homegrown system with separate security tools and software? Or do you need a customizable turnkey solution with an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)? 

To assess your current capabilities, consider these three questions:

Do your networks have enough security?

The first step in preventing a cyberattack is knowing what’s on the line. Many retailers have complex network ecosystems across e-commerce, warehouse/distribution, retail and corporate divisions. All of these networks need to be on one interconnected platform. The problem is that cybercriminals are adept at identifying the weakest entry points and may be able to breach all of your systems, bringing your network down with a keystroke. It’s critical to get ahead of the game and know how to identify signs of trouble. 

If you worry about your own solution not being strong enough, consider what an IPS application can do. While firewalls filter network traffic and block traffic that isn’t approved, an IPS is a network security tool that monitors for malicious activity and takes action to prevent, report or block attacks before damage is done. Older solutions, such as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), can only detect or report on suspicious activity — they cannot take the required steps that today’s IPS are built to undertake.

Do you have the IT staff necessary to manage security, day-to-day operations and larger initiatives?

There are many kinds of cyberattacks, ranging from DDoS to ransomware to phishing and insider threats. Viruses can spread far and wide in the time it takes you to contact IT. Does your staff have the resources to manage your day-to-day IT needs (such as email, server access, online credentials, etc.), advance larger strategic IT initiatives and also mo​​nitor security threats? Chances are you don’t have the resources to do all three. 

Do your employees practice safe surfing? 

There’s a major push to educate employees about the risks of cybercrime and how to prevent it. Most employees know to immediately delete that suspicious email from an unknown sender and report any phishing activity to your IT department. However, cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated every year.

Today’s IT environment looks a lot different than it did even five years ago. There are more remote and hybrid workers and more devices connected to your network — including employees’ personal smartphones and tablets that may lack adequate antivirus protection. To increase your defenses, consider a managed security solution from a trusted partner. 

Retailers should look for a service that offers a comprehensive suite of security features that includes firewall and VPN capabilities, antivirus and anti-spyware features, content filtering and intrusion prevention. You may be able to get managed security from the same provider that delivers your network connectivity. In addition to getting a more powerful security solution, the outsourced managed services model helps free your IT staff to focus on their core responsibilities.  

You can get ahead of cybersecurity threats by partnering with a company such as Spectrum Enterprise. Our solutions can help mitigate risk by strengthening your defenses and proactively monitoring your network to detect any signs of trouble before they can negatively impact your organization. Learn more about security services that help protect against malicious threats and secure site-to-site and remote connections.